Marcus Miller

With a title that happens to allude to the reverential way hardcore thump fans refer to him, Miller’s seventh solo disc delivers in all the usual ways and more. On the bass-anthem front, the opening Middle-Eastern-intoned “Blast” and “Pluck” (sporting sitar overdubs by Marcus) go for the jugular, while “Funk Joint” and “Strum” are more fully fleshed out via multiple sections with ear-grabbing harmonic development. Covers, always a favorite for Miller’s choices and reconstructions, are in abundance. “When I Fall in Love,” “Higher Ground,” and “Jean Pierre” serve as vehicles for fretless bass/bass clarinet, serious shuffle slapping, and potential live stretching, respectively. “Free” revives a Deniece Williams soul gem, and Robin Thicke’s recent radio hit, “Lost Without You,” gets an artful recast. Most anticipated is an up version of “What Is Hip?,” with Marcus slapping Rocco’s 16th groove behind original T.O.P.er Chester Thompson’s B3 organ brilliance.

Elsewhere, Lalah Hathaway and Keb’ Mo’ lend vocal vision to “Ooh” and “Milky Way,” while “Cause I Want You” is a Shihan the Poet rap track with a killer bass sound beneath it. Last but so not least are the superb harmonica hues of new band member Gregoire Maret, who surges and soars through most of the tracks, giving Miller his strongest musical foil since Miles Davis.
- Chris Jisi